Programs

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is a bureau within the Department of the Interior. Our mission is to work with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. Our programs are among the oldest in the world dedicated to natural resource conservation.

Here is just a sampling of some our programs, efforts and partnerships taking action to build a healthy environment for future generations and how you can get involved.

Buy a Duck Stamp. When you buy a Federal Duck Stamp, you are doing your part to help ensure a bright future for wildlife, waterfowl and other migratory birds. For every dollar you spend on Federal Duck Stamps, 98 cents goes directly to purchase vital habitat for conservation purposes.

Support Junior Duck Stamp. Thousands of K-12th grade students from all over the United States are competing for the “Best of Show” first place win in their state Junior Duck Stamp contests.

Visit a National Fish Hatchery. Celebrate over 140 years of the Fisheries program. Visit over 70 National Fish Hatcheries around the country and witness a historic legacy in aquatic resource conservation. Children’s positive interaction with the environment can lead to a life-long interest in enjoying and conserving nature.

Celebrate Endangered Species Day. On May 16, 2014, observe Endangered Species Day and recognize the national conservation effort to protect our nation’s endangered species and their habitats.This past year, the Service honored 40th Anniversary of the ESA with a year-long commemoration of the law providing daily facts, downloadable images, success stories from across the U.S. and free, educational activities for families.

Let’s Go Outside.“Let’s Go Outside” encourages children, educators and parents to get outside and enjoy nature and wildlife. Experiencing nature can be as simple as visiting a local wildlife refuge, state park, bird watching in your own backyard or even taking a walk around the neighborhood to see wildlife.

Look at my new fishing pole! Learning about the Endangered Species Act starts at an early age. Credit:Jane Chorazy / USFWS

Connecting People to Bird Conservation.International Migratory Bird Day IMBD celebrates and brings attention to one of the most important and spectacular events in the Americas - bird migration. Bird Day is celebrated in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Central and South America, and the Caribbean.

Plant a garden. Each year we celebrate National Pollinator Week (June 16-23, 2014) in recognition of the importance of pollinator species to agriculture, forest and grassland environments and other ecosystems.

Go hunting. By respecting seasons and limits, purchasing all required licenses, and paying federal excise taxes on hunting equipment and ammunition, individual hunters make a big contribution towards ensuring the future for many species of wildlife and habitat. The Service recognizes that in many cases, hunting is an important tool for wildlife management.

Consider a career in conservation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife employees are dedicated professionals working to conserve, recover and prevent the extinction of unique and imperiled species both locally and abroad.

Earth Day is a time to give back to the environment by participating in many of the Service’s scheduled events. Throughout the year, other celebratory activities can be found in the special events calendar.